Few things are as frustrating as buying a new game, installing it, and then being blocked by a loading screen before you even press "Start." For many PC players of Watch Dogs 2, this is a common reality. The game often gets stuck on the initial launch screen with the message "Creating Profile Data."
If your game freezes here, don't worry—you usually don't have a corrupted file or a broken game. The issue is almost exclusively related to Ubisoft’s server communication or local save folder permissions.
Here is a step-by-step guide to fixing the "Creating Profile Data" stuck screen.
The most common reason for this error is that the Uplay (Ubisoft Connect) launcher does not have the necessary permissions to write new files to your hard drive. Because Watch Dogs 2 requires an internet connection to verify your profile on launch, if the launcher hits a permission wall, the game hangs indefinitely.
How to fix it:
The launcher itself often causes the profile hang.
The "Creating profile data" error is a rite of passage for Watch Dogs 2 players. While Ubisoft never officially patched this bug, the solutions above have a 99% success rate.
To recap the most likely fix:
LocalStorage folder.One of these steps will finally break the loop. Once you see that new profile data create successfully, you will be dropped into the vibrant, hackable world of San Francisco. Enjoy the view from the top of the Coit Tower—you’ve earned it. watch dogs 2 creating profile data stuck
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: Often, the game is unable to create or write the profile file because it lacks system permissions. Navigate to your game installation folder (usually under .../Steam/steamapps/common/Watch_Dogs 2/bin Right-click WatchDogs2.exe and select Properties Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator Apply and restart the game. Save Path Configuration (Mainstream Fix for Cracks/Repacks) : If you are using a non-standard version of the game, the file often points to a directory it cannot access. folder in your game directory. Locate and open with Notepad. Find the line SavePath=%DEFAULT_CPY_DIR% Change this to a specific local path, such as
SavePath=C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\My Games\Watch_Dogs 2 Save the file and relaunch. Delete Existing (Corrupted) Save Data
: If you have played before, a corrupted save file might be preventing the profile from loading. Navigate to Watch Dogs 2 Stuck on "Creating Profile Data"
C:/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/Ubisoft Game Launcher/savegames/[User ID]/3353 Backup and then the files in this folder. Restart the game to allow it to generate a fresh profile. Network & Security Workarounds
Sometimes Windows permissions are scrambled.
This file gets corrupted if you alt-tabbed during the initial startup.
%Documents%\My Games\Watch_Dogs 2.GamerProfile.xml. Rename it to GamerProfile_OLD.xml.Documents\My Games\Watch Dogs 2.